The bustle of the crowd and the clinking of wineglasses receded from his ears like an ebbing tide.
The party passed through a deep, quiet corridor lined with all manner of abstract paintings.
Walking just a step behind, the waiter sneakily eyed Bai Zhou, wondering if this could be a relative of the restaurant's legendary, elusive owner...
—The young man was dressed so casually: the top two buttons of his white shirt were undone, and his ill-fitting trousers still bore stubborn smudges of mud that refused to be brushed off.
It made one wonder if he had just returned from transplanting rice seedlings in the fields.
Yet perhaps this was how truly great figures acted once they returned to simplicity.
A man driving a Maybach might merely be the chauffeur...
While someone in baggy shorts and flip-flops, with a hefty ring of keys jangling at his waist, wasn't necessarily not an actual young master!
And now, as he strolled along the plush carpet, passing one authentic masterwork after another bought at auctions—
This mysterious man had hollow eyes, wearing the vacant expression of someone whose mind was wandering in the clouds, too indifferent to care.
Yet from time to time, an eerie smile would flit across his face—unreadable, but radiating a piercing murderous intent.
—Oh no!
The waiter's heart gave a sudden thump. Was he holding a grudge?
"..."
Bai Zhou tried his best to maintain a smile before them, not wanting to embarrass Crow...
However, because his smile looked far too stiff, it somehow gave off a distinctly murderous vibe.
—In truth, he wasn't thinking about anything at all; he was simply unaccustomed to being the center of so much attention.
...Could this have been within Crow's expectations as well?
Was that why she hadn't come along?
It had seemed much the same back at the Special Control Bureau.
Even though people hid everything regarding the mysterious world behind the scenes, they still possessed an overwhelming sense of superiority, relishing the spotlight.
Bai Zhou was different.
For now, at least, he preferred to keep his head down and make a fortune quietly.
Being a little mouse was great. Little mice lived longer and ate more.
—Since ancient times, humanity had never ceased practicing the wise philosophy of the mouse.
*Tap...*
Eventually, the manager led Bai Zhou to a halt before a dark wooden door seamlessly integrated into the wall.
Upon the door was carved an intricate, ornate design: a star entangled in thorns, with "L'étoile Voilée" inscribed above it.
—Meaning the Hidden Star.
Or perhaps, the Veiled Star.
The manager carefully produced a brass key, turned it in the keyhole, and pushed open the wooden door.
"Welcome, our honored guest for all time!"
As the wooden door slowly swung open, a silver-gray private room came into view.
The fragrance of incense mingled with the scent of aged wood washed over them. One wall was entirely taken up by a massive, one-way floor-to-ceiling glass window, while on the opposite wall hung an enormous painting—
A black crow, rendered in wild and romantic brushstrokes.
Gazing at the crow in the painting, Bai Zhou felt a sudden stirring in his heart.
So today, he had walked through the city where Crow once lived, visited the restaurant she used to frequent, and sat in the private dining room that had once belonged solely to her...
Was he experiencing a piece of Crow's past life?
What kind of food did she like? What did she think about, and what did she do while sitting in this room?
What role had she once played in this city? Had she been famous?
...The mysterious Crow rarely spoke of her past.
—Yet this time, the tip of the iceberg concerning Crow felt closer to him than ever before.
"The owner of this painting—or rather, the true owner of this room."
Bai Zhou looked at the manager and asked tentatively, "What were they like in your memory?"
"Eh? She..."
The manager opened his mouth, but abruptly stopped.
A look of bewilderment crept into his eyes, only to vanish an instant later.
—In the end, he merely looked at Bai Zhou with deep confusion. "The owner of this room... isn't that you, sir?"
"Though this is our first meeting, I have long held the utmost admiration for you."
Saying so, the manager sighed with deep emotion. "Before you recited the countersign, I could hardly believe my own ears."
"This private room has finally welcomed its true master for the very first time."
"...?"
Bai Zhou stared hard at the manager. "Are you... new here?"
"Pardon?"
The manager's face flushed slightly, suspecting that Bai Zhou was questioning his professionalism. "I took over the managerial duties of this establishment fifteen years ago... Whatever would make you say that, sir?"
"No, it's nothing."
Bai Zhou waved a hand and quickly offered an apology.
Yet inwardly, a chill ran through him.
—That was impossible!
There was no way Crow had never been here. When she mentioned the restaurant, she had recommended dishes with practiced familiarity.
That wild portrait of a crow was the best proof.
Bai Zhou could even picture her seated in this spacious room with her back to the massive crow painting, elegantly and expressionlessly savoring a "Handcrafted Roaming Sakura Low-Sugar Daifuku."
As for why it was a "Handcrafted Roaming Sakura Low-Sugar Daifuku"...
Naturally, it was because that was the fanciest, most high-end food Bai Zhou currently knew of.
And yet...
The manager seemed to possess no recollection of Crow whatsoever, as though he had never laid eyes on her.
Or rather, as if Crow had never existed in the first place...
Just like the Major back at the Special Control Bureau.
He had thought he was approaching the tip of the iceberg of truth, only to realize upon drawing near that an even thicker fog awaited him.
A haze of doubt enveloped Bai Zhou, though he pushed it down for the time being.
"Our establishment is renowned throughout Tinghai for its signature Western Federation French cuisine, fused with creative contemporary twists from our head chef..."
Listening to the waiter's fluent presentation and glancing at the menu written entirely in French, Bai Zhou gave a deadpan nod.
Right, he couldn't understand a single word.
However, he grasped the general idea:
The head chef possessed exquisite skill, was adept at handling all kinds of ingredients, and held the magic touch to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.
As far as Bai Zhou understood it... they could cook anything!
Even shoe soles would taste delicious!
And so, with a crisp *snap*—
Bai Zhou shut the menu and gave his order:
"In that case..."
"Start me off with a bowl of hulatang."
When one was tense and exhausted, nothing beat a robust bowl of spicy hulatang.
Things he used to dislike and resist suddenly felt dearly missed at this moment.
"...Excuse me?"
The waiter's pen froze midair, wondering if his ears were playing tricks on him.
"Is that not possible?"
"It is! It absolutely is!"
The waiters shook their heads in unison.
Without prior consultation, a sense of profound reverence toward the mysterious man arose among them.
Sitting in the most secretive private room in all of Tinghai, dining with priceless silver cutlery, having a celebrated, priceless French head chef personally cook for him...
All just to drink a bowl of hulatang?
Great figures truly were beyond comprehension!
*Aren't these people leaving yet...?*
Bai Zhou kept an impassive face, feeling somewhat annoyed.
The waiters constantly pouring tea and offering attentive, meticulous service felt like a burden to him instead.
With them watching his every move...
How was he supposed to retrieve the "pocket money" hidden in the room?
Fortunately—
Before Bai Zhou could fret for long, a sudden clamor and frantic shouts erupted from outside...
Vaguely accompanied by the alarming word "fire."
"—A customer is on fire!"
From the manager down to the waiters, everyone's expression shifted drastically.
There was a fire outside? Why hadn't the alarms gone off—
Wait, it wasn't a fire outside?
—What did they mean by a customer being on fire?!
*Clatter...*
The waiters rushed out in a flurry to help.
"Phew."
Bai Zhou finally let out a sigh of relief.
Though he had no idea what had happened...
His predicament was resolved!
He immediately shut the door and surveyed his surroundings.
Carefully lifting the tablecloth, Bai Zhou peered down at the dark oak floorboards beneath his feet.
*"Beneath the table legs, at the seam of the floorboards, is an inconspicuous little scratch that looks as though it was chipped by a chair leg."*
Recalling Crow's instructions, Bai Zhou began searching the area.
*"Aim at that scratch and knock firmly three times."*
*"Then move half a finger's width to the left, find another scratch, and press down hard."*
Crouching on the floor, Bai Zhou meticulously followed each step.
At the same time, he kept an ear open for any commotion outside.
*Click—*
Accompanied by the whir of a shifting mechanism, the floor tile at the scratch abruptly sprang upward.
A case popped out, pushing the tile up with it.
Here it was!
*Thump, thump...*
Bai Zhou's heart began to race.
With a soft *click*—
The case opened.
The items buried here for who knew how long finally saw the light of day once more.
Inside were six pieces of equipment in total.
...A folded, lightweight black trench coat.
It seemed to be the exact same model as Crow's.
Its function was to keep warm in winter and cool in summer, self-clean without needing washing, and deploy an internal mechanism to transform into a paraglider in an emergency.
...A rather flashy-looking digital wristwatch.
It kept precise time, contained an inscribed ritual, and would automatically switch time zones within the Reflected Ruin Realm.
...A simple silver necklace and a pair of black-rimmed, gold-wire glasses.
Used together, they diminished the wearer's presence and allowed them to appear on electronic surveillance with the face of an ordinary passerby.
...And a black folding umbrella as straight as a short blade.
It concealed a hidden mechanism and served for both sunny and rainy days.
Five items, each with its own clever utility—truly the ultimate toolkit for assassinating someone and fleeing into the night.
—Yet that wasn't all.
"..."
Bai Zhou's heart skipped a beat.
His gaze was drawn to the final item.
A handgun.
It was a large revolver, but its lines were as sleek as a golden sculpture. Its frame was forged from a peculiar black stone that seemed to drink in the light, displaying a darkness deeper than shadows.
Covering the grip was a gentle, fossilized ivory white.
Upon that white base, alternating black and white piano keys had been exquisitely carved.
The paradoxical interplay of black and white, light and shadow, struck a delicate harmony.
...Oddly enough, it had no hammer, nor could its cylinder be swung open.
—Because it was an Extraordinary weapon.
[Light-Shadow Harmony]!
*"The Adjudicator-300 is decent enough, but unfortunately, you're no marksman, and you have no way to resupply ammunition,"* Crow had explained while introducing the gear among the "pocket money" before his departure.
*"A standard iron chunk off an assembly line won't help you... You need special items that aren't on any official registry."*
*"—Light-Shadow Harmony, an Extraordinary weapon that chooses its master."*
*"Every time you strike a 'key,' you command the balance between light and shadow."*
*"Mind you, however, it will continually drain your will to replenish its ammunition..."*
*"Only one whose will is steadfast enough can play its melody!"*
"..."
Reaching out to touch the smooth grip of the revolver, Bai Zhou vaguely sensed a living, breathing pulse.
The instant his fingertips brushed the "piano keys"—
*Ding-dong!*
A scorching sensation of suction surged forth, and in his ears, Bai Zhou seemed to hear the deep, melodious resonance of a piano.
The lingering notes reverberated endlessly.
...It wasn't until the faint, distinct scent of the firearm drifted into his nostrils that Bai Zhou snapped out of his daze.
Then...
He looked down at himself, swept his gaze over the six pieces of equipment in the case, and let out a soft breath.
"Where... is the restroom?"
What was he waiting for?
—Now, it was time for an outfit change.
...
*Whoosh—*
Carrying the case, Bai Zhou had just stepped out of the private room when he heard the clamor of the crowd outside.
Then, at the center of the crowd, he spotted...
A young girl who looked about his age, perhaps even a bit younger.
Objectively speaking, she was certainly a delicate and lovely beauty, yet her attire clashed jarringly with her demeanor.
To be precise, she looked like a schoolgirl who had stolen her mother's evening gown to wear.
Youthful and radiant, yet deliberately putting on a mature air... that was roughly the impression she gave.
Moreover, she appeared to be all on her own, surrounded only by an anxious circle of waiters, looking utterly bizarre and pitiable.
—None of that was the important part, however.
The important part was that
The reason the dining patrons were all watching her while whispering among themselves...
And the reason the frantic waiters were crowding around her...
—Was because this girl was huffing and puffing out gouts of actual fire with every breath!
Genuine, bona fide flames!
Not only that, even a section of her hair was actively burning!
—Just like a huffing little fire dragon.
Amid the smoke and scorch marks, gasps of astonishment rose continuously.
"Talk about a girl on fire!"
Passing by, Bai Zhou was left dumbfounded.
Was she the one who had successfully drawn everyone away and gotten him out of his bind?
Bai Zhou was thoroughly bewildered...
Had Extraordinaries really reached the point where they could flaunt supernatural abilities brazenly before the public?
Yet upon closer inspection, the girl didn't seem to be an Extraordinary at all.
So Blue Star's so-called "creative French cuisine" actually included "fire-eating"?
Thank goodness he had ordered hulatang...
Bai Zhou felt a profound respect for this brave girl who dared to "eat fire."
Still, he had no intention of meddling in others' business, nor any desire to investigate the matter.
—He couldn't waste the precious time this "literally lit beauty" had bought him!
Carrying the case, Bai Zhou hurried toward the restroom.
Unfortunately, in a restaurant this high-end, the private room didn't have its own bathroom.
Perhaps it was because the building had been constructed so long ago, or perhaps because this special room was reserved exclusively for Bai Zhou.
...Fortunately, the main lobby restroom was completely empty right now.
It was a high-end restaurant after all; even the restroom carried the refreshing fragrance of fruity black tea.
Finding a stall and locking the door, Bai Zhou began to change.
*Rustle, rustle.*
Soon, the Bai Zhou wearing the Special Control Bureau suit uniform vanished.
—In his place, a brand-new Bai Zhou sporting a trench coat identical to Crow's made his debut.
He truly wasn't suited for heavy, formal attire like suits; after donning the trench coat, he looked like a completely different person.
At the very least, Bai Zhou felt far more relaxed all over.
"..."
Finally, with the watch fastened around his wrist and the revolver tucked at his waist, Bai Zhou faced the narrow, closed stall door and slowly put on the black-rimmed, gold-wire glasses.
Picking up the black umbrella, he could hardly wait to step in front of the mirror and see what he looked like now.
He pushed open the small stall door.
—Then,
With a sharp *bang*, he decisively slammed it shut again.
"?"
Cold sweat inexplicably beaded on his forehead, as though he had caught sight of some horrifying presence outside.
Yet after pondering inside the stall for a moment, he cast a strange glance down at the toilet beneath his feet.
Wait, that wasn't right?
And so, Bai Zhou opened the door once more.
"..."
The "huffing little fire dragon" with singed hair ends was crouching against the wall in her awkward evening gown, tears streaming down her face.
Pouting, she raised a hand and drew circles on the floor tiles before her, who knew whom she was cursing, looking wronged to the extreme.
The restroom was the only place where one could cry in secret...
The girl had always believed that.
Just then, a breeze drifted in from outside, carrying the glow of the neon lights from the neighboring street.
The fluttering hem of a trench coat appeared before her.
The girl looked up in surprise.
A handsome youth in a black trench coat and a high-end watch, wearing gold-wire glasses, stood expressionlessly before her.
Like an assassin.
The trench coat exuded a chilling aura, his expression was cool and aloof, and he stood with a dashing poise more elusive than the passing wind.
Yet his presence somehow drew people in, and the light from above bathed him—
Like a little sun.
Warm and comforting.
...The girl blinked, sizing Bai Zhou up.
She suddenly felt that her miserable, aggrieved mood had inexplicably improved quite a bit.
When you cried loudly, when you cried out for help, would someone truly come to save you?
Such a sweet dream was something the "literally lit fire-dragon girl" had stopped having since she was ten years old.
—Yet this mysterious man in black who had dropped expressionlessly from the heavens...
When had he arrived?
This had to be... a dream too, right?
She vaguely felt something was amiss.
...Yet no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't figure it out, her eyes blinking repeatedly.
"Um..."
After a long silence, the necklace around Bai Zhou's neck swayed gently.
This trench-coated man, who in the girl's eyes had made such a sudden, mysterious entrance,
Turned his face away, lowered his gaze, and offered a flat reminder:
"—This is the men's room."
Chapter 46